Radiator



Nov. 12, 1935. C;l OPPE ET AL 2,020,957

25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZS Y\ Nov. 12, 1935. C. OPPE ET AL 2,020,957l

4 l RADIATR Filed Feb. 25, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES RADIATOR Charles Oppe and Joh Conn., assignors to n J. Cui-ello, New Haven, The G & Manufacturing Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 25, 1933, Serial No. 658,572

4 Claims.

This invention relates to radiators and more particularly to engine-cooling radiators of the honeycomb type.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide an improved radiator c ore of the honeycomb type which is very ecient and relatively inexpensive,

light in weight and yet strong.

Another object is to properly proportion the air passages relatively to the water passages.

Another object is to furnish a radiator core which is provided between the water passages with very effective means whereby heat can be carried from the water-containing walls into the air.

Another object is to provide effective means for dividing and utilizing the air entering the corev at the forward face. It is aimed to avoid cool or cold cores of air traversing the core, and to cause all parts of the air entering the core to be brought into contact with metal Walls of the core structure to effect transfer of heat.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a radiator core embodying our improvements, the same being broken away intermediate its top and bottom surfaces;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the core shown in Fig. 1 showing the core broken away between its front and rear surfaces;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of a portion of the core;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of a portion of one of the corrugated walls interposed between two adjacent water passages;

Fig. 6A is an enlarged detail section on line [iA-6A of Fig. 6;

Fig. '7 is a detail edge View of the upper portion of a unit of which a number are employed in manufacturing the core, the interposed airdeiiecting walls being omitted;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary edge view of the lefthand wall or plate adapted to be used in the unit;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary edge view of the righthand wall or plate;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a unit with parts broken away to show the interior structure;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modied construction;

Fig. 12 is a vertical central section through a portion of the core shown in Fig. 1l;

Fig. 13 sho-ws the interposed walls or plates used in the core shown in Figs. 11 and 12, these walls or plates in this instance being formed as a continuous strip;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view partly broken away of a unit such as used to make up the core shown in Figs. l1 and 12; and

Fig. l5 is a detail face View of the right-hand air-deecting wall shown in Fig. 13 looking from the inside.

In producing a radiator core embodying our invention we usualy provide the core with generally upright zigzag Water passages and with a plurality of generally horizontally disposed air passages passing through the core from front to rear, said core being made up of a plurality ci generally loop-shaped sheet metal units which are assembled side by side, and when so assembled, create between them the intervening passages for the circulation of water. Usually the iiuid to be cooled is water and the cooling fluid is air, and we mention this by way of example. Each unit usually extends from the bottom of the core completely to the top and comprises a corrugated sheet metal strip disposed generally in the form of a loop and having its ends suitably interconnected. When two such units are brought laterally into juxtaposition they form between them a sinuous or zigzag water passage. The corrugations in the strip extend transversely thereof and substantially horizontally, the opposite side edge portions of the strip being offset so that when the edges of one of the side walls are abutted against the edges of a side wall of the adjacent unit, a water passage of elongated cross-section and of suitable capacity will be created.

In Fig. l of the drawings we have shown an assemblage of three, sheet metal units 20, 2| and 22, respectively, constituted in the manner above mentioned. These are all of identical structure, but it will be noted that the end joints 23, by means of which the ends of each strip are interconnected, are disposed in staggered relation in that where one unit has its joint 23 lowermost, for example, the next adjacent unit has such joint uppermost. In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 only two of the units are shown, and theseviews well illustrate the sinuous or zigzag water passage 24 formed by the juxtaposition of two units. The strip bent into loop vform to constitute the outer walls of the unit is shown at 25, and the edge portions of the strip are, shown at 26. Between the offset portions the face of the strip is corrugated to form alternating ridges 2l and valleys 28.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, there is interposed between the side walls of each unit a sheet metal heat absorbing inner structure consisting of two separate abutted corrugated plates, one of these plates being a so-called lefthand plate, as shown particularly at 2'9 in Fig. 8, and the other being a so-called right-hand plate, as shown particularly at 30 in Fig. 9. These plates when abutted face to face and inserted belaterally offset 2 tween the'lateral walls of the unit form in lcon` .Y junction with the unit a cellular structure having Vlength-0f the air passage. of each horizontal portion with the V-shaped porthree vertical rows of the approximately square mouths at the respective faces ofthe core, the

mouths of the middle row being offset in a vertical direction from the mouths of the side rows, which y latter are in horizontal alinement. One orf-the vertical rows of mouths of each unit is formed between a side wall of the unit and therpla'te 2S. The next vertical row is formed between the two plates 2Q and Se, and the third row is formed between the plate 3E) and the other side wall of the unit. rl'he interposed plates 29, Y3Q are corrugated transversely and preferably there is inthe intermediate portion of'reach transverse corrugation a end which serves to deflect the air'and break up the airstream and cause all portions of the air entering the ccrrugation at one face to come into Y contact with .the metal Walls to abstract` heat therefrom. In the particular Vform shown the corrugations have substantially V.shaped portions therein interrndiate of their ends, the intermediate portions being constituted by Vs which are rather shallow. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 6, Veach valley extending across the strip has fairly long horizontal end portions 3| and an inter- .rnediate portion 32 in the form of a shallow V.

Preferably the V-shaped Ypor-tions extend through approximately one third of the length of the air passage `and each of the horizontal portions extends through approximately one third of the Adjacent thejunction tion, the material of the sheet is struck up to provide means forrlocating the strip relatively to vits cooperating interposed strip and for preventing lateral displacement, this means being con- Vstituted by intertting projections and recesses on the strips-or plates. In the particular form shown, each valley has `associated with itV toward one side edge of the strip a struck-up portion p-roviding an inwardly directed locating projection 33 and toward the other side edge ofjthe` strip a struck-up portion -presenting an inwardlyfacing recess and then in thek nextV valley there will be ,a depression 34 located toward the first- ,narned edge of the strip andV there will be a projection 33 located toward the other edge of the strip. In'other words, the projections 33jand re- YcessesYt-i will have'a staggered relation o-n the strip. When the strips 29, 30 vare placed face to face,jeach projection 33 engages the correspondingrecess 3Q in the other strip. Asa conseduencev of the arrangement'described there are provided on the inner faces `of each of the plates 2e, 3Q in regionsfspaced inwardly from the front and rear faces of the core bent-up or integrally formed 4centering or locatinglmeans situated at the ridges projecting inwardly from the plates, the `centering means in a given area Vlocated to'- ward one face of `the core consisting of alternating projections and'depressions on the ridges arranged so that when one ridge has a projection on its summit the' next adjacent ridge will have a depression in its summit.

1 We also 'preferably provide suitable means for locating `the plates 2s, 3i] relatively to the outer side walls oi the units, and in the particular form shown we have disclosed unit side walls having inwardly facing recesses Se formed by indenting the strip, said recesses being at the summits or ridges of the corrugations. At points near the offset edge portions 2t Yof the units these recesses teserveto receiveY the ridge portions ofthe interposed strips, these ridge portions tting betweenV slightly raised portions on the side walls of the unit insucha-manner as. to'preveritthe interposed strip irom being dislocated relatively to the adjacent side wall. Y 5 It will be observed that the intermediate bends .in the valleys of the interposed strips 297, 3D register with each other, or, in other words, the opposed intermediate V-shaped portions of the two strips are inhorizontal alinement, and, therefore, l0

there'are created between the two strips .a num- Y ber of passages extending from front to rear of the `core and having bends therein by which the air is deflected out of its course and then back into its course in core to the rear. On the otherhandVthere are formed between each interposed strip Yand the adjacent side wall of the unit a plurality of gen-V erally square mouthsatthe front andrearfof the core, and each ofi'these mouths communicates 2 0 with a passage portion at the middle part of the core which is substantially straight .at one side but on the other side has a return bend therein. As a result of having. the V-shaped bends ex-V tend for approximately one third the lengthcf 25v the air passages and the horizontal portions each extending approximately one third the'lengthlof the air passage, the area of vair turbulencein the passage is so located as to place it where itis most needed, and on the other hand Vthe horizon-730i tal portions of the Yairpassages provide continue ous solder-contacting areas leading from the Water passage walls, which; areas are relatively large and of great effectiveness for carrying heat Y away from the water passagewalls.Y Y 35V In the structure .above described. it will bennderstood that wherel they-.shaped bends in the air passages formed between the interposed strips have the apices of the VVis lowermost, therapice's of the Vs in corresponding air'pass'agesof -the'40 Ynext adjacent units will be uppermost.. .This is shown in .Figsl and 3 of the drawings.

In the form shown in Figs. 1-l .to l5, inclusiv we makeup theI enclosing wall of eachcellular` unit in the manner previously described, but inf 45 stead of interposing twoseparate strips between the Y lateral walls, we Winterpose interconnected strips forming parts of a continuous member bentJ intermediate of its ends 'and returnedupon itself in the manner shown particularly inFig. 13. 50 The continuous member or strip A is transversely corrugated as before, and has return bends in the valleys of its corrugations, vand may, infact, be stamped upso as to have the same congura'- tion as theu strips 29 and 3 previously described, 55

although of about twice their length.

' In Fig. 11 we have shown three units 205,'72Ia,

Vand 22a, corresponding in arrangement to the as shown particularly in Figs. 14 and l5. In 70Y other words, where the air-deflecting 'channels are of thshal, as shown, the'apices of the Vs one side portion of the strip are uppermost and apices of the' Vs in the opposite side portion `of the strip are lowermost. In Fig. 15 someof 75V passing from the front of the l5..

the Vs of the left-hand strip portion are shown in dotted lines. The result of this arrangement is that the air passages located between the interposed walls are of quite irregular form in a zone intermediate of their ends. At their ends they are of substantially square or rhcmboidal shape, but intermediate of their ends they have at one side a channel deiiected in one direction and at the opposite side a channel deflected in the opposite direction. Air passing through such a passageway is given great turbulence and the stream of air is very eifectively broken up with complete elimination of any cold core of air and with consequent eifectiveness of heat transfer.

In the form last described, it is preferred to alternate the interconnected ends 31 of the doubled strips so that where in a given unit the interconnected end 3l is uppermost, the interconnected end of the strips of the next adjacent unit will be lowermost. This is clearly shown in Fig. 1l.

The operations of soldering together the different parts of the core assemblage are carried out in the usual manner, and need not, therefore, be described in detail. It will be understood, however, that the solder in which the core is dipped at its opposite faces effectively secures the interposed strips to each other and to the side walls of the loop-shaped units into which they are inserted.

By our invention a light-weight but very strong radiator can be provided and one in which the area of the air passages has such a relation to the area of the water passages as to promote the highest eciency. The air encountered by the front face of the core is so divided and utilized as to have a very superior cooling effect, and in particular the air passages formed between the side walls of the radiating structures set in between the walls of the water passages are of great advantage in extracting from such radiating structures heat which has been carried by conduction into those structures from the water passage walls.

While we have shown some preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that We have. not attempted to illustrate or describe the various modifications which may be made without departing from the principles of our invention. Various changes may be made in the detailed structure without going outside of the limits defined in the claims.

What we claim is:

l. In a radiator, a core having a plurality of transversely corrugated sheet metal Walls forming a plurality of generally upright water passages spaced laterally from each other, and transversely corrugated sheet metal strips set in face to face betweeneach water passage and the adjacent water passage, said strips having vshaped corrugations therein creating passages to carry air from one face of the core to the other face, said air passages having horizontal front and rear portions aggregating about two thirds of the total air passage length and a V-shaped intermediate portion of a length corresponding approximately to one third of the length of the air passage, said strips having soldered contact with the water passage walls substantially throughout the length of the horizontal portions of the air passages.

2. In a radiator, a core having a plurality of transversely corrugated sheet metal walls forming a plurality of generally upright water passages spaced from each other laterally, transversely corrugated sheet metal strips set in between each water passage and the adjacent water passage, said strips forming between them pas sages for carrying air from the front face of the core to the rear face thereof, said air passages each having a horizontal front end portion and a horizontal rear end portion and a shallow intermediate V-shaped bend fori creating air turof the corrugations which will extend toward l5 each other at the inner faces of ysaid strips for locating one strip relatively to the other and preventing relative displacement of the strips, said means comprising bent-up portions located on said ridges adjacent the junction of the horizontal passage portions with the V-shaped portions, said bent-up portions being in the form of projections on certain ridges alternating with depressions in the adjacent ridges, each projection extending into the opposite depression of the other strip.

3. In a radiator, a core having a plurality of transversely corrugated sheet metal walls forming a plurality of generally upright water -passages spaced from each other laterally, and

transversely corrugated sheet metal members set in between each water passage and the adjacent water passage, said members forming between them air passages leading from the front face of the core to the rear face thereof and having square mouths and horizontal portions located adjacent the front and rear faces respectively of the core and V-shaped bends intermediate the horizontal portions for creating turbulence in the air passages, said members being formed as parts of an integral strip and the V-shaped bends of 'opposing members extending in opposite directions, said V-shaped bends extending through approximately one third the length of the air passages and the horizontal portions of the air passages each extending through approximately one third the length of the passages.

4. In a radiator, a core having a plurality of transversely corrugated sheet metal walls forming a plurality of generally upright water passages spaced from each other laterally, and transversely corrugated sheet metal members set in between each water passage and the adjacent water passage, said members forming between them air passages leading fromthe front face of the core to the rear face thereof and having square mouths and horizontal portions located adjacent the front and rear faces respectively of the core and V-shaped bends intermediate the horizontal portions forV creating turbulence in the air passages, said members being formed as parts of `an integral strip and the V-shaped bends of opposing members extending in opposite directions, and means on the ridges of the corrugated members which extend toward each other at the inner faces of the members for centering the members relatively to each other, said members having solder-contact with the water passage walls substantially throughout the length of the horizontal portions of the air passages, said horizontal portions each being substantially one third the length of the entire air passage.

CHAS. OPPE. JOI-IN J. CURELLO. 

